Is Music Composition Original Research?

ByGregory Young, Jenny Olin Shanahan

Achievement levels in composition vary greatly, from college freshmen writing original melodies for the first time, to the great symphonies that Mozart wrote at a similar age. And how is it usually done? Has the process changed with the advent of computer music notation? This chapter will explore the criteria for evaluating the strength of a compositional research project, what background research needs to be undertaken and documented, and how such work might be seen and heard by a variety of audiences from experts to the average listener. Quotes from student composers will be followed by sample project abstracts.